Mule Breeding. 103 



generally supposed. This class of birds has been in the 

 hands of a very limited number of fanciers for the last 

 forty years or more, and have dwindled year by year to a 

 mere fraction of what they were at that period. They have 

 become very delicate with in-and-in breeding, and their con- 

 stitutions have been greatly impaired thereby, so that the 

 strongest of them are now regarded as tender birds. Having 

 procured these, get a large bird bred between a Belgian 

 canary and a cinnamon variegated Yorkshire Fancy; let it be 

 perfectly clear in colour, and if it "blows clear" all over, so 

 much the better that is, clear in the under flue, or small 

 feathers next the skin. Many birds which appear clear are 

 found when examined to have small black feathers beneath 

 their outer covering. Birds of this kind should be avoided 

 when they are intended to be matched with a London Fancy 

 bird, as plenty of green will be had from the last-named 

 variety. Having obtained a bird of this description of the 

 opposite sex and colour to the " black wing " (London Fancy), 

 they can be paired. In choosing a cross-bred bird of this 

 sort, endeavour to get one with red or brown eyes, commonly 

 called " pink-eyed " ; it is not difficult to do so, as most birds 

 with a cross of cinnamon blood in their veins have red eyes. 



In the next place, procure a clear hen of the evenly-marked 

 Norwich Fancy strain. The larger she is and the richer in 

 colour the better. This hen must blow clear likewise that is, 

 when you blow back the feathers on the under part of the 

 body the inner feathers or under-flue should be clear as well 

 as the upper or top covering of feathers. When purchasing 

 London Fancies be sure to have them both out of the same 

 nest, if obtainable; if not, they ought certainly to be of the 

 same parents ; and I should strongly advise you to get two 

 male birds if possible; but, if not, couple the cock bird with 

 the Norwich Fancy hen, and the hen "black wing" with a 

 male bird bred in the way I have already pointed out. Keep 

 two or three of the cleanest birds obtained from these crosses ; 

 but if any of them have "pink eyes," select these in pre- 

 ference to all the others; mate these, and breed from them 



